Folding footing tamp

ABSTRACT

A tool for leveling and finishing concrete footings that is light weight and easy to use in many varying situations. Specially designed hinges allow the tool to become rigid when opened for work and also fold for transport and storage. The tool has two working surfaces of different lengths. By inverting the tool the workman can change from long or short areas easily. The working surfaces are joined by two handles of sufficient length to perform at various depths and configurations.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to . . . a tool for leveling concrete footings while still in a plastic state and, more particularly, to . . . a tool that folds after use for transport and storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Freshly poured concrete footings require a tool to flatten and level the surface. This surface provides a suitable base on which cement blocks or concrete forms etc. can be placed. Footings are poured below the frost line to prevent shifting and degradation. This leads to footings that can be deep in the ground and hard to work. Footings may also be stepped up or down a slope with short, long, and sometimes curved sections. Footings also contain vertical steel reinforcement rods that tie together the footing and whatever is placed upon it. A footing is important because it supports the entire structure and is engineered very carefully so it is sufficient for the load and designed specifically for the structure above.

At the present time, a concrete contractor will generally build a footing tamp on the job site from the materials available. This usually takes the form of a “T” constructed of 2″×4″ lumber. The ″T″ is inverted so the top of the “T” comes in contact with the concrete and the bottom of the “T” is used as the handle. A concrete Floor tamp can be used where footings permit.

Floor tamps have a large working surface to tamp a large open area. A workman using a floor tamp stands in the concrete he is finishing and tamps near his feet. Footings require a workman to stand alongside and above the footing. This makes the floor tamp too short to use without strain from bending. Vertical steel rods protruding from the surface of the footing make the floor tamp unusable in most instances. The 2″×4″ tamp made on the job site is prone to splinters, awkward to handle and leaves an irregular finish that is not desirable to work on. Both of these tamps tend to pick up concrete on the working surface and become heavier as they are used.

It is therefore an object of the invention to . . . level and finish concrete footings of varying sizes

It is another object of the invention to . . . fold for storage and transport.

It is another object of the invention to . . . become rigid when opened for work

It is another object of the invention to . . . be light weight easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided . . . a tool for leveling and finishing concrete footings that is light weight and easy to use in many varying situations. Specially designed hinges allow the tool to become rigid when opened for work and also fold for transport and storage. The tool has two working surfaces of different lengths. By inverting the tool the workman can change from long or short areas easily. The working surfaces are joined by two handles of sufficient length to perform at various depths and configurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a folding footing tamp opened for use.

FIG. 2 is a perspective top right view of a detachable hinge at short working surface and right handle as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective top left view of a swingable hinge at short working surface and left handle as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom left view of a swingable hinge at long working surface and left handle as shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective bottom right view of a swingable hinge at long working surface and right handle as shown in FIG. 1.

For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the FIGURES.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a front view of a Folding footing tamp 10 opened and locked for use. In these illustrations the tool is shown made of tubular steel for rigidity but can be made of other materials that have acceptable properties. The hinges may be of different design as long as they swing to the proper angles. In this illustration the tool is shown with the short working surface 11 at the top and the long working surface 16 at the bottom.

When the short working surface 11 and right hinge are attached the tool becomes rigid for work. This allows for the short working surface or the long working surface 16 to be used as needed by inverting the tool. The left handle 14 has permanent hinges at both top and bottom which are connected to the work surfaces by hinge pins 20. The top left hinge is designed to swing to an obtuse angle and become rigid for work. The bottom left hinge is designed to swing to an acute angle and become rigid for work. Both hinges are designed to swing flat to the working surfaces for transport and storage. The right handle 18 and hinges are designed the same as the left handle 14 and hinges. All tubular ends have caps 21 to keep out material, they are shown in FIGS. 2,3,4,&5.

FIG. 2 is a perspective top right view of the detachable hinge 12. The detachable hinge 12 allows the tool to be connected into it's rigid position for work. When disconnected the tool can fold for storage and transport. The upper right hinge is permanently attached to the right handle 18 and the detachable hinge pin 19 is installed into the short working surface 11. This allows the upper right hinge to disengage from the short working surface 11.

FIG. 3 is a perspective top left view of the swingable hinge at short working surface 11 and left handle 14. This hinge connects the left handle 14 to the short working surface 11. The upper left hinge 13 is permanently attached to the left handle 14 and one of the hinge pins 20. This allows for swinging to the desired obtuse angle. The upper left hinge 13 is designed the same as the upper right hinge.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower left hinge 15 at long working surface 16 and left handle 14. This hinge connects the left handle 14 to the long working surface 16 using a permanent hinge pin. This allows for swinging to the desired acute angle. This hinge is the same as the lower right hinge.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lower right hinge at long working surface 16 and right handle 18. Both lower right hinge 17& top right hinge are permanently attached to right handle 18.

Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims. 

1. A folding footing tamp for leveling and finishing concrete footing comprising: means for leveling concrete footing in smaller areas; means for engaging the tool for work or disengage for storage, rigidly connected to said means for leveling concrete footing in smaller areas; means for swinging for storage or become rigid for work, hingeably connected to said means for leveling concrete footing in smaller areas; means for holding the tool for work, hingeably connected to said means for swinging for storage or become rigid for work; means for swinging into position for work and allow folding for storage, hingeably connected to said means for holding the tool for work; means for leveling concrete footings in large areas., hingeably connected to said means for swinging into position for work and allow folding for storage; means for swinging into position, hingeably connected to said means for leveling concrete footings in large areas; means for holding the tool for work, hingeably connected to said means for swinging into position, and rigidly connected to said means for engaging the tool for work or disengage for storage; means for connecting or releasing upper right hinge; and means for connecting the handles to the work surfaces.
 2. The folding footing tamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for leveling concrete footing in smaller areas comprises a short working surface.
 3. The folding footing tamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for engaging the tool for work or disengage for storage comprises a detachable hinge.
 4. The folding footing tamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for swinging for storage or become rigid for work comprises a swingable upper left hinge.
 5. The folding footing tamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for holding the tool for work comprises a left handle.
 6. The folding footing tamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for swinging into position for work and allow folding for storage comprises a swingable lower left hinge.
 7. The folding footing tamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for leveling concrete footings in large areas. comprises a long working surface.
 8. The folding footing tamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for swinging into position. comprises a swingable lower right hinge.
 9. The folding footing tamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for holding the tool for work comprises a right handle.
 10. The folding footing tamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for connecting or releasing upper right hinge. comprises a detachable hinge pin.
 11. The folding footing tamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for connecting the handles to the work surfaces. comprises a permanent hinge pins.
 12. A folding footing tamp for leveling and finishing concrete footing comprising: a short working surface, for leveling concrete footing in smaller areas; a detachable hinge, for engaging the tool for work or disengage for storage, rigidly connected to said short working surface; a swingable upper left hinge, for swinging for storage or become rigid for work, hingeably connected to said short working surface; a left handle, for holding the tool for work, hingeably connected to said upper left hinge; a swingable lower left hinge, for swinging into position for work and allow folding for storage, hingeably connected to said left handle; a long working surface, for leveling concrete footings in large areas., hingeably connected to said lower left hinge; a swingable lower right hinge, for swinging into position., hingeably connected to said long working surface; a right handle, for holding the tool for work, hingeably connected to said lower right hinge, and rigidly connected to said detachable hinge; a detachable hinge pin, for connecting or releasing upper right hinge; and a permanent hinge pins, for connecting the handles to the work surfaces.
 13. The folding footing tamp as recited in claim 12, further comprising: a seals ends of tubes caps, for keeping material out of tubes.
 14. A folding footing tamp for leveling and finishing concrete footing comprising: a short working surface, for leveling concrete footing in smaller areas; a detachable hinge, for engaging the tool for work or disengage for storage, rigidly connected to said short working surface; a swingable upper left hinge, for swinging for storage or become rigid for work, hingeably connected to said short working surface; a left handle, for holding the tool for work, hingeably connected to said upper left hinge; a swingable lower left hinge, for swinging into position for work and allow folding for storage, hingeably connected to said left handle; a long working surface, for leveling concrete footings in large areas., hingeably connected to said lower left hinge; a swingable lower right hinge, for swinging into position, hingeably connected to said long working surface; a right handle, for holding the tool for work, hingeably connected to said lower right hinge, and rigidly connected to said detachable hinge; a detachable hinge pin, for connecting or releasing upper right hinge; a permanent hinge pins, for connecting the handles to the work surfaces; and a seals ends of tubes caps, for keeping material out of tubes. 